Power bending apparatus



Dec. 11, 1934.

c. I, LEWELLEN 1,984,145

POWER BENDING APPARATUS Filed July 24, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 e2 6? a.'i-

47 as .91 1 b 6 6" 37 8 CA aster, Laue 4 1934. c. L. LEWELLEN 1,984,145

POWER BENDING APPARATUS F'il d July 24, 1935 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 mm W I D11 1934- c. L. L EWELLEN 1,984,145

POWER BENDING APPARATUS WM W Patented Dec. 11, 1934 uNir-sp sitar-Es LQLMS a POWER. BENDING APPARATUS "Chester L; Lewellen, Detroit, Mich.,-assignorto "MotorProducts CorporatiomDetrcit, Mich, a corporation of NewYork fApplication' July 24, 1933, .S'erialNo. 682,024

10 Claims.

Thisiinvention relates generally to bending apgparatus and refers moreparticularly'to machines --for forming a curvature in strip stock.

Although itwill. be apparent as this description proceeds that themachine forming the 'subject matter of this invention-is capable ofbending va- 'rious types of'stripstock, nevertheless, the ap-,paratusselected for the purpose of illustration 'findsparticularutility when employed in forming curvatures-in garnish moldings of thetype used extensivelyin the manufacture of vehicle bodies.

Due to the-difficulties heretofore-experiencedin-satisfactorily--.aotuating the bending fixtures of :inachinesof thegeneral type previously set forth by powerameans, it has been customaryin the past to -operate these fixtures manually; notwithstandingthe factthat this-mode of opera- 1 tion not onlymaterially 'l'imits production,but it requires considerablezman power, especially in eases-wherethe-stock to be bent is of relatively r heavy'gauge.

The present invention provides a'relatively simplesolution for theproblems heretofore encountered in applying power tolbending fixtures ofthe type-set forth;-with the result that therman'power l heretoforeconsidered" essential inthe operation of such apparatus is-not onlyappreciably reduced,

but the potential production-of the same is. -materially increasedwithua consequentsavinghin cost of manufacture. In other words,itl-isvthe principalobject of thelpresent invention to render theoperation of the. bending. fixturelpractically automatic,and themannerin-which this. isac- A complished will vbecmadelmore apparent asthis description proceeds, especially when-considered .inconnectionwiththeaccompanying drawings,

, wherein:

Figure l is .a fragmentaryperspectiveview of a bending machineembodyingsmy improved.- powermeans forv actuating thebending fixture;

Figure.2 is a sectional View takenlon the line 2-.2 of Figure l Figure 3is a plan view of the bending fixtureillustratedl in Figure 1;

Figure i .is a sectional View taken on the line. 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 5;

Figure Tis a semi-diagrammatic view of the means for connecting thebending "fixture shown .in Figurel to the source oflpower;

Figurefi is a fragmentary side elevationalview I of a slightlymodifiedform ofthe invention;

(FOL Isa-'46 Figure 9 Ba fragmentary plan View of the con- 4 structionshown in Figure 8;

1 Figure lilis a sectional view taken on the line 10-10 of Figure 8;

Figure 11 is a sectional View taken on the line l111-of Figure 8 showingthe bending mechanism adapted to be actuated by the power meansillustrated in Figure 8;

Figure 12 is: a semi-diagrammatic view illustrating themeans foroperatively connecting the bending fixtures shown in Figure 8 to thesource of power.

Although it will be apparent as this description proceeds that the powermeans may be employed with any one of a number of different types:

of bending fixtures, nevertheless, for the purpose of illustration andsimplification I have shown my improved power means in association witha bending fixture'of the general type featured in A the Broomhanipending application, Serial No. H 82,067, filed at'an even dateherewith. In detail,

the bendingmachine comprises a table 15 pro- --vided"with asubstantiallyflat horizontally disposed top section 16 having adie 17 suitablysecured to the upper side of the top section 16. As 1 shown particularlyin Figure 3, the die 17 is curved in the direction of-the length thereofcorresponding to thedegree of curvature it is desired to form inthestrip'stock or garnish molding designated 'herein bythe referencecharacter 18. The inner face of the die is uninterrupted throughout itslength for the purpose to be presently described, "and the-outer face ofthe die is formed with a groove l9 therein throughout the length of thesame having a cross sectional contour corresponds ing to the crosssectional contour of the strip 18. The particular strip 18 shown hereinis substantially channel-shaped in cross section,-and, accordingly, thegroove 19 is correspondingly shaped. The size of the groove 19 is suchas 'to freely-receive the strip 18 and engage the words, into the strip18 so as to engage the inner surface of the latter asclearly shown inFigure 4. Inasmuch as the entrance end of the die engages one side ofthe strip 18 and the shoe 20 engages the opposite side of the strip, itwill be apparent thatmovement of the shoe in the direction of length ofthe die will compel the strip to assume the curvature of the die. Inthis connection, it is to be noted that the shoe is guided throughoutthe aforesaid movement by engagement of the inner face thereof with theouter face of the die, and vertical displacement of the shoe relative tothe die is prevented by forming a shoulder 22 at the inner side of theshoe adjacent the upper end thereof for engaging the underside of aprojection 23 extending outwardly from the upper end of the die.

Referring now to the mechanism for effecting movement of the shoe 20 inthe direction of length of the die 17, it will be noted from Figure 4that I provide an arm 24 disposed above the die 17 and having the innerend pivotally supported from the table at a point spaced inwardly fromthe die 17 in such a manner as to permit the arm to swing in asubstantially horizontal plane. In detail, the inner end of the arm 24rests upon a thrust bearing 25 which in turn is seated upon a bearingblock 26 fixed to the table top 16, and both the arm and bearing areheld in assembled relation with the block by means of a pin 27 having areduced portion threaded in a tapped opening formed in the block 26. Theouter end of the arm 24 is operatively connected to the shoe 20, but inView of the fact that the axis of pivotal movement of the arm is notnecessarily the axis about which the die 17 is curved, suitablemechanism must be incorporated to compensate for any variation betweenthe two aforesaid axes. This mechanism comprises a guide member 29interposed between the lever 24 and die 17 and pivotally connectedintermediate the ends thereof to the arm 24 for swinging movementrelative to the arm in a plane parallel to the plane of pivotal movementof the latter. The aforesaid pivotal connection comprises a pin 30slidably mounted in a slot 31 formed in the arm 24 in the direction oflength of the latter and having the upper end fixed to a washer 30slidably engaging the top side of the arm 24 and bridging the slot 31therethrough to support the pin in the latter slot. The lower end of thepin 30, on the other hand, is threaded for attachment to the guidemember 29, with the result that the latter is connected to the arm 24 insuch a manner as to permit the same to slide relative to the arm in thedirection of length thereof as well as swing relative to said arm. Theextreme inner end of the member 29 is provided with a roller 32 forengaging the uninterrupted inner face of the die 17 at a point directlyopposite the point of engagement of the shoe with the strip 18 in thedie. It will be observed from the foregoing that upon swinging the arm24 about its axis, the member 29 will follow a path determined byengagement of the roller 32 with the inner surface of the dieirrespective of the position of the axis of swinging movement of the arm24 relative to the axis of curvature of the die due to the substantialuniversal connection or" the member 29 with the arm 24. Consequently,the member 29 may be employed for moving the shoe 20 throughout thelength of the die 17, and, in the present instance, the shoe 20 isconnected to the member 29 by means of a pair of blocks 33 and 34slidably mounted in a T-shaped slot 35 formed in the member 29. The slot35 extends in the direction of the length of the member 29 so as toprovide for relative sliding movement or the blocks in a correspondingdirection, and the innermost block 34 is provided with an inwardlyextending projection 36 engageable in a recess 20 formed in the outerface of the shoe 20 for moving the shoe relative to the die uponswinging movement of the member 29 by the arm 24. The outermost block33, on the other hand, is connected to the free end of the member 29 bymeans of a toggle 3'7 comprising a pair of pivotally connected links 38and 39 actuated by a suitable handle 40 connected to the outer end ofthe link 39. In detail, the connection between the toggle and member 29is efiected by pivotally connecting the link 39 intermediate the endsthereof to the ex treinity of the member 29 as at 41 and by pivotallyconnecting the inner end of the link 38 to the outermost block 33 as at42. In the position of the parts shown in Figure 4, the toggle is in itsinoperative position so that strai htening of the toggle by swinging thehandle 40 downwardly effects an inward sliding movement of the block 33relative to the member 29 or toward the block 34, In order to impart alike movement to the block 34 and at the same time provide for yieldablyurging the projection 36 into operative relation with the shoe, I employa coil spring 43 having the opposite ends located within counterboredopenings formed in the adjacent faces of the blocks 33 and 34.

With the parts as thus far described, and assuming that a strip is inoperative relation with the die as shown in Figure 3, and that it isdesired to bend this strip to conform to the die, the operatormanipulates the handle 40 to straighten the toggle 37 and therebyyieldably urges the shoe 20 into frictional engagement with the innerside of the strip to be bent. Upon completion of this operation, the arm24 is caused to move about the axis of the pivotal connection of thesame with the table top, and through the intermediary of the operativeconnection between the arm and shoe 20, the latter is moved throughout apath defined by the die so as to bend the strip 18 to the contour of thedie. After the strip has been bent to the desired contour, the toggle3'? is again broken, releasing the'pressure upon the shoe 20 andpermitting the finished strip to be removed from the die.

In order to prevent creeping of the strip along the die during thebending operation, it is desirable to provide some means for clampingthe strip to the die, and this is accomplished by a clamp designatedgenerally in Figure l. by the reference character 45. The clamp 45engages the portion of the strip in the die behind the shoe 20 andcomprises a bracket 46 fixedly secured to the table top 16 havinglaterally spaced ears 47 between which an operating handle 48 ispivotally connected as at 49 intermediate the ends thereof. The extremeinner end of the handle 48 is pivotally connected as at 50 to the outerend of a clamping member 51 having a projection 52 on the inner endthereof extending into the groove 19 of the die for engagement with thestrip to be bent. The foregoing construction is such that when theoperating handle 48 is in the position thereof shown in Figure 1, theprojection 52 exerts a pressure upon the strip for clamping the same inthe groove 19 or the die, and when the operating handle 48 is moveddownwardly from the position thereof mentioned above, the afore saidpressure is relieved permitting unobstructed removal of the strip fromthe die and at the same time permitting the next strip to be assembledwith the die by sliding the same endwise into the groove 19.

As hereinbefore stated, the present invention concerns itself moreparticularly with power means for effecting the necessary swingingmovedrive. shaft 56. rotation of the sleeve .72,inthedirectionof thearrow 73 effects a pivotalmovement ,of thepawl 67 about-itsaxis- 68 towithdraw theprojection mentof thearm 24 to cause i the desired travel:of the -51106 20 throughout thei-lengthzof the die 17. :The powermeans-referred toabove comprises sleeve-54 which in turnisjournaledaattha lower end within a 1 ringii55 1 formedon: the arm 224for end to a suitable prime -mover (not shown) through the mediumpfa-clutch -'57 having ccaxially arranged, relatively slidable:sections"-58 and 59 provided with cooperating-interengaging teeth 60."In the present-instance, the'clutch section 59 =is directly-connectedto the power takeoff shaft of the prime mover for rotation therewith as-a unit, -wh-ile the clutch section 58 is onmeshing-with a-worm iwheel=58 keyed tothe shaft 56. *The construction is suchas to; provideformovement of the-'olutohsecticn-58 into and out-of mesh with thesection 59 toconnect and disconnect the drive shaft from the source ofpower.

" In order to-- actuate the splined clutch section 58 timed-relation tothe-actuation of thebend- --i-ng-fixture,-the section 58 is operativelyconnected to areciprocable barsl normally urgedina direction'to-move-the section 58 into mesh'with the -section59 by means ofaspring'62. The opera- -tion-ofthe;spring 62 to move'the bar 61 and themovement of the latter to; disengage the clutch is automaticallycontrolledqin'timed relation to the operation jOff the bending fixturethrough the medium ofthe: mechanism designated generally herein by" thereference character 63.

The mechanism 63 comprises a disk 'fiikeved 'to the driveshaft 56 andconnected to the bar;;61

'intermediatathe ends thereof to the diSK'fOI swingingmovement about avsubstantiallyghorizontalaxis 'designate'd'herein by the referencecharacter 68.,and having theouter end extending beyond the periphery ofthe disk. .The latter endofthe pawl is, provided with. anupwardlyextending projection69v normallyurgedJto a position above thedisk. for. engagement with the lever .65 by. means .of aspring 76interposed between the disk, and. inner. end-.of the pawl. 'IThe pawl.is ,operatedagainst theaction of thespring '70 to move the..pro-jection.69 out of .the plane of .th

.lever 65 by. means of ,a,fiexible member.'ll having theupperend,operatively connectcdtoithe inner endeof the pawl and.havinghthe, lower. end fixed to asleeve 72.rotatably,mounteduponthe,The construction is such that 69 .on-the,pawl.out1,of theplane of thelever 65. Rotati-ve movement of the sleeve in the directionof the arrow.73. to-efiect the ioregoingresults is accomplished herein by means ofazfiexible member 74 having theinnerend connected to the sleeveandhaving the outer-endconnected .to a suitable operator 75: providedwithat handle 76 positioned for convenient manipulation by the operator.

referencentorthe bending fixture that in theinitial rposition; of the.latter, ;.the pawl holds the earm: in its. inoperative. position-againstthe action :of the spring-62. through thevmedium of the, conz-noctionuofthe;lever-..6.5 with the. arm or, in other words, i holds the clutch .inits disengaged position. As soon as: the operating-handle 40ismani-pulated to clamp. the strip otmetal to be bent in: the die .bythe shoe 2o; the projection 69, of the pawl islwithdrawn from engagementwith the ';lever permitting the spring 62 to move the arm 61 iii-a.direction to engagexthe clutch and thereby effecting a. rotation ofthedrive shaft. Inasmuch .asitis essential to: manipulate. the handle :46to clamp. the-shoein place prior to releasing the pawl;-hoth of. thelatter functions may beaccomplished-by one operationrendering, itunnecessary to manipulate the handle 76. :As shownv in Figure 54;thehandle '76 is, provided wit'na downwardly, extending projectioniiiopositioned inadvance of an upwardly-extending projection .81 locatedonthe handle l0 ;at:a point spaced outwardly from the pivotal connectionof the link139with the member 29 so. that {downward movement of; thehandle 40 :to straighten the toggle twillefiect ;a rearward Thus, fronrthe f foregoing, it .-.will he observed that-as soon as the toggle 37 isstraightened; the projection "69 isfidisenga'ged from the lever .65permitting movement ofthezarm 61 by the spring "'62 to engage thec1utch,.and:thereby effect a rotation of thedriveshaft56.lincidentallvniovement of the arm 61: to engage theclutch; effectscorresponding movement of the lever =;65.in.a direction opposite to thedirection of rotation of fithe'diskvfi i.or'driveshaft 56,50 that theprojection 69 still-again engage; the lever: 65 before i the drive shafthas completed one revolution, but inview of the fact that-the clutchremains in I engagement until the arm'61 is retracted the same distancethat it is advanced to engage the clutch, iitwill bev apparent thatactual-disengagement of the power :will nottalrelplace .until'thelever65 i iSJGUlIXlEd. by the pawl .67 to the original position thereof shownin Figure l or, in other words, until the drive shaftis rotated onecomplete revolution.

In the-present instance, the shoe. 2O ismoved throughout the length ofthe die 1'7 by a connection between the beam 53 and arm 24. How ever, inview of the fact that the beam 53 is con- -nected to the drive shaft 56through the medium of the sleeve 54 for rotation as a unitwith the driveshaft; the operative connection-between the beam and arm 24; issuchastoreleace the latter 'from-the'former when the curvature in themetal ,hasjoeen completed so as .to .permitthe beam to ,complete.. itsrevolution with the drive shaft 56. ,Iheaforesaidconnection comprises abracket '85fsecured to ,the ,beampintermediate the endsthereofnandhaving laterally, spaced ears 86 forum .-ing. a ,pivotalsupport for the upper end of a ,gfinger 87 having the lower. endprojectingdownvl ardlybelow the. beam 53, for engagement with the .arm24 ,-.at a ,point spaced 1 from. the pivotal vconnectioneof .the ar-m,with the table soas, to

push the arm around the aforesaid pivotal connection. Although asuitable spring pressed plunger 88 is carried by the bracket forengaging a portion 89 of the finger extending above the pivotalconnection with the bracket tending to maintain the lower end intoengagement with the arm 24, nevertheless, this means in itself is notsumcient to overcome the reaction of the arm in moving the shoethroughout the length of the die, and for accomplishing this result, Iprovide means for positively locking the finger in its operativeposition relative to the arm 24. This latter means is shown in Figure 6as comprising a pair of jaws 90 disposed beneath the beam 53 uponopposite sides of the bracket 85 and finger 87. The jaws are pivotallyconnected to the bracket 85 through the medium of pivots 91 for swingingmovement toward and away from opposite sides of the finger 8'7, and thefree ends of the jaws are normally yieldably maintained into engagementwith the latter sides of the finger by means of a spring 92 acting uponthe pivoted ends of the jaws beyond the pivots 91. The free ends of thejaws, on the other hand, are provided with enlarged portions 93 formingshoulders 93 for engagement with the front side of the swinging end ofthe finger to maintain the same against the corresponding side of thearm 24, and this action is insured herein by means of a latch member 94having an opening 95 therethrough for receiving the free ends of thejaws and pivotally connected as at 96 to one of the jaws. Theconstruction is such that when the latch member has been swung to theposition thereof illustrated in Figure 6 wherein the free ends of bothjaws exend into the opening 95 in the latch member, the jaws arepositively locked with the shoulders 93 in engagement with the swingingend of the finger, and accidental swinging movement of the latch memberto release the jaws is prevented by means of a spring 97 located in themanner clearly illustrated in Figure 6. The free end of the latch memberextends laterally beyond the bracket to such an extent as to engage atrip 98 upon completion of the bending operation. The trip 98 is, ofcourse, fixed relative to the latch member so that as the beam passesthe trip, the same will swing the latch member about its pivotalconnection 96 against the action of the spring 9'7 to unlock the jawsfrom engagement with the free end of the finger 3'7. After the latch hasbeen disengaged in the manner specified above, the relatively lightspring 92 is insufficient to counteract the resistance to continuedrotation of the bending fixture by the beam 53, with the result that thefree ends of the jaws will be forced to swing outwardly by the swingingend of the finger as the latter passes over the arm 24. The bendingfixture may then be manually returned to its original starting position,while the beam 53 completes its revolution.

If desired, the beam may be employed to automatically release the clamp45 during the interval of movement of the same from the trip 98 to itsinitial starting position, and this is accomplished herein by a lever 99pivotally connected intermediate the ends thereof as at 100 to the sideof the table top in such a manner.that the upper end assumes a positionin the path of travel pf the beam to be engaged by the latter. The lowerend of the lever, on the other hand, is connected by a flexible member101 to the free end of the handle 48 so that as the beam swings thelever 99 in the direction of the arrow 102, the free end of the handlewill be lowered through the medium of the flexible member 101 to releasethe clamp.

After the beam is returned to its initial position in the manneroutlined above, the free end of the finger 87 is merely forced betweenthe enlarged end portions of the jaws to the position thereof shown inFigure 6 whereupon the apparatus is ready for the next bendingoperation.

In some cases, it may be desirable to form two curves in a strip ofmetal, and in order to accomplish this result expediently, I provide theapparatus shown in Figures '7 to 11, inclusive. In accordance with thepresent embodiment, both curvatures in the strip are formedsimultaneously by a pair of bending fixtures 102 and 103 identical tothe bending fixture hereinbefore set forth in so far as the constructionthereof is concerned. In the present instance, both the aforesaid bending fixtures cooperate with a common die 17' differing from the die 1'7in that the opposite ends are curved to correspond to the curvature itis desired to form in the strip designated in Figure 11 by the referencecharacter 18'. The strip 18' is clamped to the die 17 intermediate thebending fixtures by means of a clamp 45' identical in construction andoperation to the clamp 45 previously described. With the construction asbriefly;

set forth above, it will be apparent that after the straight strip 18'has been inserted between the die and shoes associated with the bendingfixtures and the clamp 45 has been manipulated to secure the strip inplace, both of the bending fix tures are swung simultaneously indirections away from each other around the curved end portions of thedie to bend the strip to the contour of the die. Inasmuch as theconstruction of both the bending fixtures 102 and 103 is identical tothe:

instance, the swinging beams 53 of both thebending fixtures 102 and 103are not rotated one complete revolution as in the first described formof the invention, but, on the other hand, are arrested soon after thebending operation is completed as will be more fully hereinafterdescribed.-:

In the present embodiment of the invention as in the first describedform thereof, the bending shoe actuating arms 24' are operativelyconnected to the beams 53' by the same mechanism set forth above. In thepresent instance, however, the; beams 53' are swung a sufiicientdistance only to release the fingers 87' from the arms 24' by the stops98' or, in other words, the beams 53' are arrested before the fingers 87actually pass over the arms 24'. of the beams and arms to such an extentas to prevent passing of the fingers 87' over the arms, the fingers willbe maintained on the same sides of the arms 24 at all times. Byproviding the aforesaid means for releasing the arms 24' from the beams53', accurate bending of the strips of metal is insured, since the armsare arrested at a predetermined point irrespective of any slight overtravel of the beams 53. In addition, it is to be noted that each of thetrips 98 may be ad justed to vary the positions thereof relative to thelatch members 94 and thereby provide for varying the degree of curvatureof the bend in the strip.

Referring now more in detail to the mechanism for simultaneouslyactuating the bending fixtures 1G2 and 103, it will be noted that bothof the latter are provided with drive shafts 104 and 105 respectivelyconnected to the swinging beams 53' of the fixtures in the same manneras the drive By restricting relative movement;

104. The gear train" 106 comprises a' pair of gears 107 and 108respectively secured to theupper ends'of the drive shafts l04'and andoperatively connected by a pair ofintermeshing pin'ions-109; As' shownparticularly-'- in Figure 9, the in'termeshing pinions' 109 respectivelymesh with the gear wheels 10''! and 108 at points spaced from thepoints'of intersection of a-line 110 passing through the axesof b'oth'drive shaftsso as to permit varying the distancebetween the latteraxes'without the necessity of interchangingany part ofthe gear"train106.A's-a matter of fact;

the gear' train is so supported as: to provide for! varying the distancebetween the-axes of the two drive shafts without disconnecting thegejartrainth'erefrom, and this 'is accomplished herein by mountingthe'pinions'109s upon a common bracket 111 having the opposite-endsrespectivelypivotally connected to the drive shafts 104 and'105by-li-nks The: shaft 104 isoperatively connected-to" a counter'shaft113 having-a pairof pulleys 114 and :115" freelyrotatably'mountedthereon in axial spaced relationship. Both pulleysareoperatively. connected 'to empower shaft (not shown) through themedium of suitable'belts 116, and the belt for the pulley 115 ispreferablytwisted so that this'latter-pulley will rotate' in a directionopposite to the direction of rotation of the pulley 114; The'pulle'ysare selectively securedto the countershaft for rotationtherewith as a-u-n-it by means ofa clutch 117 splined -upon the shaftand having: clutch teeth 118' and'119 upon opposite ends forrespectivelyxenga'ging cooperating; teeth upon the'pulleys 114-and 115upon movement of the clutch in opposite directionsrelative-"to the shaft113. .The' clutch is moved axially of the shaft by means of anarm120-pivotally supported intermediate the ends as at 120 and; havinga forkatthe upper end for engagement "in -an annular groove 121 formed in theclutch 117, The lowerend of the arm, on the other-hand; 1s-= connectedto an operating bar -122 extending in a direction transverse to the arm120 and havingahandle portion 122 conveniently located for manipulationby the operator.

Assuming that the clutch- 117is-in=its neutral positionbetween theaforesaid-pulleys and that the'operating bar is moved in thedirection ofthe arrow 123,- it will be-noted that the clutch will-bemoved' axiallyof'the countershaft-113 in-an opposite direction to secure the pulley114-to;-the

countershaft 113, and thereby connect both thedrive-shafts 104 and105-130 the-source-of poweri; On the other hand, movement of-the bar-inthe opposite direction or in the direction' of the-ar-- row 124effects-a movement of the-clutehl 1'7 in-to engagement with thepu1ley115to-rotate the countershaft as wellas bothof the drive shaf-tsindirections opposite tothedirectionsof rotation thereof by the pulley114. It will, of course, be-

understood that the-drive shaft-105 will always be rotated in adirection opposite tothe'directionof rotation of thedrive-sh'aft 104irrespectiveof which'of the pulleys is secured to the counter-jshait113.

As shown particularlyin Figure 8, the operatingbar 122'is-yieldablyconnected toa fixed-sup p'ort125 by'means'of a spring 126 in'such amanner thatmovementof the bar in the direction of the arrow 123 or,inother words, in a direction to connect the pulley 114 tothecountershaft, places-the spring under tension tending to move the'bar'in the directionof'the arrow 124 to disengage the clutch ll'i'from'the pulley 114 and to connection, itis to be noted that-the strength ofthe spring is not-sufficient to counteract the torque on the'clutchteeth and disengage the clutch from the'pul-ley 114,-but. issufficientto engage the clutch with-the pulley- 115 after the clutch-hasbeen-positively disengaged fromthe pulley 114. The manner-in which thepositive disengagement iseffected will be-more fully hereinafter setforth. Accidental movementof the bar-bythe spring 126 isprevented'hereinby means of a-catch 127 com' prising a la-tch member128- having a shoulder 129 for engagementwith adog 130'fixed to-the bar122 at a point so determined that-when the clutch- 117 is-in' mesh withthepulley ll l; the dog engages behind the shoulder 129. The latch 128is fixed relative to the dogupon-thesupport 125 and is connected to thelatter by'mean's of a leaf spring 13 1 stronger than the spring"126-;but sufiiciently flexible to providefor-disengagement of the dogfromthe latch--upon positively moving the bar 122 in the directionof'the' arrow 124'.-

As pointedout above; the bending fixtures or the swinging beams 53of'the latter are moved through apredetermined arcas, distinguished"from -the beam 53 in the first described form of the invention whichis-rotated one complete revothe stops 134 and 135 are-accuratelylocatedupon the disk with reference to the arm 136-"so'-thatwhen theclutch 117 is in its neutral position or, in other words; when the armisin its'normal positionshown in Figure 10,-the distances 138 and 139between the'respective stopsand arm 136 correspond to the desiredarcuate travel of the beams 53-.

The-foregoingconstruction is such that when the-bar-122 is moved-inthedirection of the arrow 123-toengagetheclutch 117 with the pulley 114,the arm-'136-is moved a-corresponding distance opposite to-the'direction 'of'rotation of the disk 133-eff-ected by'the pulley 114 or,in other words, toward thestop-135. As-soon as the clutch 117 isinmeshwith the pulley 114,- the disk and associated 'parts' includingthe bending-fixtures are rotated in the direction of the arrow 140'untilthe stop-135-engages the arm 136 andmovesthe latter toitsnormal-position shown in- Figurelu to disengage the'clutchiromthe pulley:114; As soon asthe clutch-is-disengaged from the-pulley 114, the-spring126=automatically moves the bar inthe directionof the arrow124 to engagethe'clutch 117 with 'thepulley-115, and owing=to the connection of thearm-136-with 'the' bar, the former will be moved in a direction towardthe step 134; Engagement of the clutch 117 with the pulley 115 Thisefiects a movement of the disk in the direction of the arrow 141 untilthe stop 134 engages the arm 136 and moves the same back to its normalposition wherein the power to the beams 53 will be disconnected. Thearrangement is such that the extent of movement of thearm in thedirection of the arrow 140 is identical to the extent of movement of thearm in the reverse direction 141 so that the beams will be returned totheir original starting-positions upon completion'of each bendingoperation. Inasmuch as the arms 24' or the bending fixtures proper arereleased from the beams in the manner stated above just prior toarresting the latter, these arms and associated parts are returned totheir initial starting positions manually. In this connection, it is tobe noted that in the latter embodiment of the inven .jaws 90 arechamfered as shown in Figure 6 so as to facilitate movement of the freeends of the fingers carried by the swinging beams. 'The fingers arepreferably engaged with the clamping jaws prior to returning the arms24' to their initial starting positions so that these fingers will actas stops to limit the return movements of the arms and therebyaccurately position the latter in readiness for the next bendingoperation.

Thus, fromthe foregoing, it will be observed that the present inventionprovides power means for operating either one or a plurality *of bendingfixtures simultaneously, and, in addition, insures accurate bending ofthe stock by employing means for accurately controlling the operation ofthe power mechanism as well'as means for releassimple, and whileparticular stress has been placed upon the details of construction ofboth embodiments of the invention, reservation is made to make suchchanges in these details as may come within the purview of theaccompanying claims.

What I claim as my invention is: N 1. In a bending machine, thecombination with a bending fixture movable throughout a predeterminedpath of travel, of a member mounted for rotation relative to saidfixture, means connecting the fixture to said member, power meansoperatively connected to said member for imparting a rotative movementthereto, means automatically operable to disconnect the power means fromthe member after a predetermined interval of operation of the latter,and means operable independent of the said last named means to arrestmovement of said fixture.

2. In 'a bending machine, the combination with a bending fixture movablethroughout a predetermined path of travel, of a'member mounted forrotation relative to said fixture, means connecting the fixture to saidmember, power means operatively connected to said member for imparting arotative movement thereto, means for automatically arresting said memberafter one complete revolution of the latter, and means for arrestingsaid fixture after a, predetermined interval of rotative movement ofsaid member.

3. In a bending machine, the combination with a bending fixture movablethroughout a predetermined path of travel, of a member mounted forrotation relative to said fixture in a plane substantiallyparallel tothe plane of movement of the latter, power means for imparting arotative movement to said member, means connecting the member to thefixture, means for disconnecting the fixture from said member after apredetermined interval of operation of the fixture, and means forvarying the interval of operation of said last named means to vary thedistance of travel of the fixture.

4. In a bending machine, the combination with a bending fixture movablethroughout a predetermined path of travel, of a rotatable memberoperatively connected to the fixture, power means for imparting arotative movement to said member, means for arresting said member aftera predetermined extent of travel thereof, and means operable independentof said last named means for disconnecting the fixture from the memberat a predetermined point in the path of travel of the latter.

5. In a bending machine, the combination with a bending fixture movablethroughout a predetermined path of travel and a clamp for securing astripof metal to be bent in operative relation to said fixture, of apower actuated member movable relativeto the fixture, means connectingthe fixture to said member, means for releasing the aforesaid means at apredetermined point in the path of travel of said member, and meansoperated by the member upon continued movement of the latter to releasesaid clamp from the bent strip of metal.

6. In a bending machine, the combination with a plurality of bendingfixtures movable throughout predetermined paths of travel, of aplurality of members corresponding in number to the number of bendingfixtures and respectively connected to the latter, power means foractuating said members, and means for releasing the fixtures from saidmembers at predetermined points in the path of travel of the latter.

7. In ,a bending machine, the combination" tively connected to thelatter, power 'means for actuating said members simultaneously, andmeans associated with each fixture for independently releasing eachfixture from its driving member at predetermined points in the paths oftravel of said members.

8. In a bending machine, the combination with a plurality of bendingfixtures movable throughout predetermined paths of travel, of'aplurality of members corresponding in number to the number of bendinfixtures and respectively connected to the latter, power means foractuating said members simultaneously, means associated with eachfixture for independently releasing each fixture from its drivingmember, at predetermined points in the paths of travel of said members,and means for independently'varying the interval of operation of thesaid last named means to vary the distances Lof travel of the fixtures.

9. In a bending machine, the combination with a plurality of bendingfixtures movable throughout predetermined paths of travel, of aplurality of members corresponding in number to the number of bendingfixtures and respectively connected to the latter, power means foractuating said members simultaneously, means for releasing the membersfrom the power means, and means operable independent of said releasingmeans to arrest movement of the fixtures.

10. In a bending machine, the combination With a plurality of bendingfixtures movable throughout predetermined paths of travel, of aplurality of members corresponding in number to the number of bendingfixtures and respectively releasably connected to the latter, powermeans for actuating said members simultaneously, means operable independence upon a predetermined interval of movement of said members forautomatically disconnecting the power means from said members, and meansoperable independent of said last named means for automaticallyreleasing the fixtures from said members.

CHESTER L. LEWELLEN.

